Can I use Image maps or navigation buttons for my navigation structure?

Sometimes designers want to use graphics for navigational links. There are two common ways of making graphical links that are very different: Image maps and Navigation buttons.

Image maps can have different areas of one image linking to different web pages. That is a very common way to build top- or side-navigation bars or country maps.

Most search engines do not read image maps, so you should always add additional text-based links on each page for search engine spiders to follow. The text-based links will also be good for visitors who do not use a graphic capable browser, or are surfing with graphics turned off to save bandwidth.

Navigation buttons are single images that each Link to a specific web page. Most search engines spiders will follow this type of link. However, if you want to be absolutely sure that all search engines can and will follow all your links, we still recommend adding pure text-based links in addition to any kind of graphical links. And be aware of the following. Text links can have keywords in the link text while button links cannot. See also the Text component section.